Dead Island

This article is about the 2011 videogame. For the videogame series, see Dead Island (series).
Not to be confused with Island of the Dead.

Dead Island
PAL region PC cover art
Developer(s)Techland
Publisher(s)Deep Silver
Director(s)Paweł Marchewka
Producer(s)Adrian Ciszewski
Artist(s)
  • Paweł Selinger
  • Szymon Urban
Writer(s)
  • Paweł Selinger
  • Haris Orkin
  • Michał Madej
Composer(s)Paweł Błaszczak
SeriesDead Island
EngineChrome Engine 5[5]
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, PS3, Xbox 360
  • NA: 6 September 2011[1]
  • WW: 9 September 2011[1]
OS X
  • WW: 28 April 2014[2]
Linux
  • WW: 24 October 2014[3]
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • WW: 31 May 2016[4]
Genre(s)Action role-playing, survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Dead Island is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver.[6] Released for Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game is centered on the challenge of surviving a zombie-infested open world with an important emphasis on melee combat. The plot focuses on four playable survivors trying to survive and escape off the fictional island of Banoi.

The game was announced at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo,[7] but delayed until 2011. The game's cinematic announcement trailer was met with controversy over its depiction of a dead child. However reception was nonetheless positive, with praise going towards the emotional impact, animation and story, with the trailer being held as one of the best in any medium. The game was released in 2011. September for North America/Europe and in October for Japan. Despite the pre-release acclaim, the game received generally lukewarm reviews. While praised for its atmosphere, game play and playable characters, it was also criticized for large technical difficulties and in-game glitches, graphics and most notably being hampered for lacking the emotional themes presented in the trailer. It sold over 5 million units by February 2013.

A standalone DLC expansion, Dead Island: Riptide, was released in 2013; a spin-off, Escape Dead Island, was released on 18 November 2014; and a sequel, Dead Island 2, was set to be released in 2015, but was delayed and eventually released on April 21, 2023.[8] A remastered version of the game, titled Dead Island Definitive Edition, was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on May 31, 2016 with a Linux version following on June 3, 2016. The remastered version was also bundled as part of the Dead Island Definitive Collection along with Dead Island Riptide: Definitive Edition, all DLC and a 16-bit side-scrolling spin-off game called Dead Island: Retro Revenge.

  1. ^ a b Gilbert, B (6 June 2011). "Dead Island welcoming tourists on September 6". Engadget. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ Hillier, Brenna (28 April 2014). "Dead Island GotY edition now available on Mac". VG247. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. ^ Staff, Anchor (24 October 2014). "Dead Island GotY edition now available on Mac". VG247. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. ^ Prell, Sam (4 March 2016). "Dead Island Definitive Collection coming to PS4, Xbox One on May 31". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Dead Island is coming, with more information released". 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  6. ^ Purchese, Rob (17 February 2011). "Dead Island published by Deep Silver". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  7. ^ "E3 06: Dead Island Preshow Report". 10 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Dead Island 2 Delayed Again, This Time to April 2023". IGN. 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.